Combination mailing and return envelope with pull-out for postal inspection



Aug. l0, 1954 YMAN 2,686,005

J. H COMBINATION MAILING AND RETURN ENVELOPE WITH PULL-OUT FOR POSTAL INSPECTION Filed Sept. 15, 1952 I g I I JOHN sMnH 8. CO :i j INVENTOR.

23mm. fia/Vf /W/V/y BY J0 EL-777 W 17mm/rif Patented Aug. 10, 1954 COMBINATION MAILING AND RETURN ENVELOPE WITH PULL-OUT FOR POSTAL INSPECTION Jerome Hyman; Denver,Colo., assignor to The Rockmont Envelope'Co., Denver, Colo.

Application September 15, 1952, Serial No. 309,640

l Claim. l

rlhis invention relates to a mailing envelope, and has for its principal obj ect the provision of an envelope formed from a single piece of paper which will provide in a single convenient unit an original mailing envelope, a letter which can be opened for postal inspection, and a sealed return envelope for the use of the addressee which cannot be opened for postal inspection.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the improved envelope that the unsealing of the tab for postal inspection on the original envelope, and the complete sealing of the tab on the return envelope, will be accomplished entirely automatically without any attention on the part of the user.

While the improved envelope is more particularly designed for the collection of accounts and the solicitation of funds, itis, of course, not limited to this particular use, but can be used for any purpose where it is desired to send out an enclosed unsealed printed notice and to provide a sealed return, prepaid envelope for use of the addressee.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detailed construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. l illustrates the paper blank from which the improved envelope is formed;

Fig. 2 `is a face view of the envelope prepared for the first mailing; and

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the envelope as it would appear both before and after sealing for the return mailing.

The improved combined letter and return envelope is formed by forming a paper blank as illust-rated in Fig. 1 and folding the blank to form, in combination, the mailing envelope of Fig. 2 and the return. envelope of Fig. 3.

The blank is cut to form a back portion I joined along one side edge to a front portion Il by means of a fold line I2. Two end tabs I3 and i4 extend the full width of the back portion I@ and are uioined to the extremities thereof by means of fold lines I 5. A return envelope nap I6 extends the full length of the other side edge of the front portion It and joins the latter on a fold line I l. The width of the end tabs I3 and I4 and 'the width of the return envelope nap I 6 are substantially similar. A letter sheet It is attached to and projects from the side of the return envelope nap It and is joined to the latter by a perforated tear line I9. The above six parts or portions comprise the complete envelope blank.

The back portion I and the tabs I3 and lli are blank and the tabs taper to a less width at their free edges than at the fold lines I5. The front portion II also tapers to a less Width at its free edge than at the fold line I2 and one of the free edge corners of the front portion is out off at anv angle of 45 to provide a cut back corner 20, A gummed or adhesive area 2l is applied transversally across the back of the front portion II adjacent one extremity thereof. A legend reading Use this envelope-No stamp necessary is imprinted on the front of the front portion ad# jacent the free edge thereof, as indicated at 35, and the usual business replyy no postage permit postal information Vis also imprinted on the front face thereof, as indicated at 22 and 23. An area is provided on the front face for the reception ofv the users name and address as indicated at 2li.

The return envelope flap I6 is imprinted with instructions such as Enclose Check-Fold and Seal as indicated at 25 and with arrows 26 indicating the line Il to be folded. Substantially the entire area of the front or inner face of the ap I6 is provided with gum or adhesive 2i'. The outer face of the ilap I5 is blank.

The letter sheet I8 may be imprinted with the letter head of the user as indicated at 28 and provided with a printed letter or space for a printed letter as indicated at 29. The letter sheet also carries one or more gummed or adhesive areas 30 adjacent the free edge thereof. The reverse side of the letter sheet I8 is provided with the return address of the user, as indicated at 3l, with a statutory postal notice reading Pull Out Here for Postal Inspection, as indicated at 32, with an addressee space, as indicated at 33, and with a postage stamp or postage stamp box The envelope is designed to be mailed to the addressee by second class mail, and to be returned by the addressee to the sender by prepaid iirst class mail.

The envelopes are furnished to the sender by the envelope company or printer with the two tabs I3 and I4 folded inwardly on the fold lines I5 against the front of the back portion III and with the front portion II folded over the two folded tabs I3 and I4. The tab I3 is permanently secured in place by the adhesive 22. The tab I4 is held in place by the pressure and friction of aesaooe 3 the enfolded front I I. The envelopes are preferably furnished with the users letter 29 imprinted on the letter sheet I8 and with the other printed matter, as indicated at 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 3i and 32.

The user simply moistens the gummed areas 3Q and seals the letter sheet down'over the front portion Il and addresses the envelope to the addressee, as shown at 33, and aixes a stamp in the stamp box 34 and mails the envelope in the condition of Fig. 2.

It will be noted that for postal inspection, the tab Ill can be easily pulled outwardly to the broken line position of Fig. 2; It will also be noted that the adhesive areas 3@ are positioned-,so that they will not interfere with or damage the address 2li on the return envelope.

The addressee receives the envelope and ytears the letter sheet I8 away from the front sheetV II at the spots indicated in broken line at 30 in Fig. 3 and severs the letter sheet I8 from the return envelope flap I along the perforated linev I9. The addressees check or other enclosure is then placed between the front portion I I and the back portion I0. The adhesive 2'I is moistened and the return envelope flap is sealed down over the front portion II, as indicated in broken line at i5 in Fig. 3.

It will be noted that when the flap IS is moistened and forced down over the front portion I I, the adhesive 21 will attach the tab I4 xedly in place, due to the cut-back corner 2D, so that the tab Ill is permanently secured to both the flap It and the front portion II and can no longer be opened for postal inspection. Thus, a first class return envelope is automatically formed which is self-addressed to the user at 24, and which contains the usual First Class-No Postage permit at 22.

While the adhesive areas have been described as the gummed, water-wettable-type, any other type of adhesive could, of course, be used, such as the Scotch or latex pressure-types of adhesives.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claim, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Havingr thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

A combined mailing envelope, return envelope comprising: a back portion; an end tab at each extremity of said back portion folded inwardly over the front face of the latter; a front portion joined along one side edge of said back portion and folded over said end tabs; an adhesive area securing said iront portion to the first of said end tabs; the free edge corner of said front p0rtion which overlies the second of said end tabs being cut away so as to expose an area of the second of said end tabs adjacent the other side edge of said back portion; a return envelope flap extending throughout the length of the other sideedge of said back portion and being foldable over said front portion and 'over said end tabs;

a second adhesive area on said return envelope.

fdap extending lengthwise thereon substantially to the edges thereof and adapted to secure the` latter to said front portion and to the exposed area of said second end tab; a letter sheet secured along the free edge offsaid `return envelope flap and being separable therefrom, said letter sheet being adapted to foldforwardly over said front portion and to form a second iront portion thereover; andmeans adjacent the free edge of said letter sheet for attachingsaid letter sheet to said front portion when folded thereover.

References Cita-.din the le of this patent UNITEDZSTATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,858,277 Overly May 1'7, 1932 1,957,704 Drachman May 8, 1934 2,527,925 Framptony Oct. 31, 1950 

